David Savard
A rugged, shot-blocking defenseman who evolved from a mid-round draft pick into an indispensable playoff warrior and Stanley Cup champion.
Born 1990 (age 36)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: October 22·Millennials
Biography
David Savard's hockey profile is that of the classic, self-sacrificing defensive defenseman. Drafted in the fourth round by Columbus, the product of Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, was never projected to be a star. Instead, he built a long and valued career on sheer will, intelligent positioning, and a willingness to put his body in front of any shot. For nearly a decade, he was a bedrock on the Blue Jackets' blue line, beloved for his work ethic and quiet leadership. His career reached its pinnacle when he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning at the 2021 deadline. Thrust into a depth role on a championship contender, Savard embraced it perfectly, using his size and defensive IQ to become a penalty-killing fixture. He hoisted the Stanley Cup that summer, a fitting reward for a player whose entire game was built for the grueling grind of playoff hockey.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
David was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When David Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
David's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2021 after a mid-season trade.
- Played over 700 regular-season NHL games, primarily as a top-four defensive defenseman.
- Recorded a career-high 11 goals and 25 points for the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2014-15 season.
- Was a key part of the Columbus Blue Jackets team that swept the Presidents' Trophy-winning Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2019 playoffs.
Did You Know?
He was famously traded twice in one day in 2021: from Columbus to Detroit, and then immediately from Detroit to Tampa Bay.
Savard wears jersey number 58, an unusual number for an NHL defenseman.
He played junior hockey for the Baie-Comeau Drakkar in the QMJHL, serving as team captain in his final season.
“You just try to keep it simple, block shots, and make the easy play. That's what I've always done.”
